Lucas Herbert Ties British Open Front Nine Record, Seizes Lead at Royal Birkdale
Australia's Lucas Herbert carded a record-tying 28 on the front nine at Royal Birkdale, vaulting him into the lead during the second round of the British Open.
Lucas Herbert of Australia has made a significant move at the British Open, equalling a tournament record with a six-under par 28 on the front nine at Royal Birkdale. Starting his second round at level par, Herbert birdied his first three holes, then added further birdies at the fifth, seventh, and ninth to take the outright lead. This impressive nine-hole performance matches the record set by Denis Durnian at the same course in 1983 for the lowest first nine score in British Open history.
Herbert's surge displaced overnight leader Jackson Suber, who experienced a challenging stretch. Suber, currently priced at +4500 (Bovada) in the broader golf market, faltered with three consecutive bogeys on holes six, seven, and eight. Despite losing his lead, Suber demonstrated resilience on the back nine, recovering to return to five under par for the tournament with three holes remaining in his second round.
Other notable players also capitalized on the favorable, sunny conditions on England's north-west coast. Collin Morikawa, a British Open champion five years prior and currently listed at +2500 (Bovada), made an early move, securing two birdies within his first four holes to reach four under par for the tournament.
Rory McIlroy, a leading contender in the broader golf market at +750 (FanDuel), also showed signs of improvement. After a difficult opening round that hampered his pursuit of a seventh major title, McIlroy made a brighter start to his second round, aiming to climb the leaderboard.
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FAQ
- What record did Lucas Herbert tie at the British Open?
- Lucas Herbert tied the record for the lowest front nine score in British Open history with a six-under par 28 at Royal Birkdale. This matched Denis Durnian's 1983 record, also set at Birkdale.